State Sen. Geraldine Thompson of Orange County, left, met James Richardson in person last October in Arcadia. Thopson introduced a bill, SB-326, a companion to House Bill 227, which authorized payment of more than $1 million to RIchardson for his wrongful imprisonment.

ARCADIAN PHOTO BY SUSAN E. HOFFMAN

James Richardson is now eligible to seek $1.2 million from the state of Florida as compensation for his wrongful imprisonment for more than 20 years.

By SUSAN E. HOFFMAN

Arcadian Editor

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On Friday, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill authorizing the state of Florida to pay James Joseph Richardson $1.2 million for having spent more than 20 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of killing his child in Arcadia.

A Senate bill (SB-326) had been introduced by Sen. Geraldine Thompson of Orange County, and House Bill 227 was sponsored by Rep. Dave Kerner of Lake Worth. Ultimately the bill was unanimously passed by both the House (116 to 0) and Senate (38 to 0) on May 2.

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